In the not so distant past, the most viable smartphone work used to be Blackberry, especially with its reputation as a secure smartphone, and its funky QWERTY keypad. The problem, however, was that the old Blackberry never evolved into anything more than just a work phone. While maintaining its secure platform, Blackberry was not able to expand on its app offerings and fell behind Android and iOS, making it unattractive as a personal phone.
In addition, the capabilities of the modern smartphone have also evolved. No longer just capable of running simple 2D games, the modern smartphone now allows users to play high-graphic games that you usually only see in PC and console games.

So, for those who want to enjoy modern gaming on their smartphone while being able to access their work from anywhere, here are the top smartphones for both work and play:

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus

What makes it great for work?

This device is loaded with security features to help you feel safer and ensure that your data is always protected. You can choose from a variety of biometric device unlocking options including a fingerprint scanner, iris scanner, and face recognition. It also lets you verify online payments through these biometric options for additional security. Sensitive data can also be kept in a secure, vault-like folder so that nobody else can access it except you. You can even set up some sort of ‘kill switch’ when somebody steals your S8 and tries to reset it.

What makes it great for play?

This device probably has one of the best chipsets in the market today, supported by 4GB of RAM. Both the Qualcomm 835 (for the US) and Exynos 8895 (International) has topped most benchmark tests. These are more than enough to power any high-graphic 3D game in the market today. Plus, playing games on a curved 6.2-inch QHD AMOLED screen (which still feels like 5.5-inch thanks to its bezel-less design) is very satisfying. And if HDR progresses to more than what it is now, the S8 plus is ready.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

What makes it great for work?

What separates Note 8 from its sister phone, the Galaxy S8 Plus is that the Note series has always been about productivity. With its bigger screen and the S Pen stylus, it is the phone that is designed with work and productivity in mind. And while most people do not really care for the S Pen, it has evolved into something really fun and useful with features like Live Message, a gif-creation tool using your own handwriting and sketches; and the Screen-off Memo, for scribbling notes without unlocking. The giant of a screen also helps as it is the closest to a desktop view on a phone as you can get. Plus, video conferencing on a phone this big has never been better.

What makes it great for play?

That 6.3-inch infinity display really makes a difference. All that screen real estate really brings gaming to a whole new level. And carrying the Snapdragon 835 (for the US) and the Exynos 8895 (international) with at least 6GB of RAM, there is no game available in the market that cannot be played in this bad boy.

Blackberry Priv

What makes it great for work?

There is a more recent Blackberry in the market called Motion, but honestly, it is more of a budget phone priced as a premium one. Its predecessor the Priv, however, is what brought Blackberry back into the map. What makes this a great work phone is that it has the security features that we love about Blackberry but carries the Android platform, which makes it suitable for personal use as well. Plus, it has a sliding QWERTY keypad for all those on-the-go typing you need to do.

What makes it great for play?

It is not on par with the other phones on this list because this is really more work phone than a game phone. However, the specs in this phone are no slouch either. Carrying 3GB RAM and a Snapdragon 808 chipset, it is not the fastest but it is not slow either. These specs should be able to play most HD games but may struggle a bit if there are lots of heavy apps installed. Games also look good on its 2560×1440 resolution screen. Just remember, you are buying this more because the IT department prefers a secure platform, and not because of its gamer-friendly capabilities.

One Plus 5T

What makes it great for work?

If you want a phone that is customizable for how you work, the One Plus 5T’s Oxygen OS is as close to pure Android as it comes without actually being pure Android. You will like its pull-up drawer, and the subtle notification on the black screen is a pretty nice touch. The face recognition software works better than iPhone’s version, but it is more of a no-frills way of unlocking the screen than a security feature.

What makes it great for play?

The One Plus 5T sports a Snapdragon 835 chipset that is supported by either 6GB or 8GB with Adreno graphics. If that is not enough to power that mobile game, then you probably need a console for it. Combine that with the 5T’s Samsung OLED panel on a 2160×1080 resolution screen and you almost have a Samsung Galaxy S8. The best part is that this is way more affordable than either the Galaxy S8 or the Galaxy Note 8.

Google Pixel 2

What makes it great for work?

It was mentioned that One Plus 5T’s Oxygen OS is near pure Android. Well, Google Pixel 2 is actually pure Android. Not only that, it is the first to sport the new Android Oreo. For users who take pride in customizing their mobile phones with apps and settings that are essential to them, this is it. You can also access Google Assistant through Active Edge by simply squeezing the sides of the phone. Plus, there is Chromecast, which allows you to integrate all your hardware and software seamlessly. There is a bonus for your business travels too as Google Lens lets you use your camera to identify landmarks, and translate captured texts into your preferred language.

What makes it great for play?

It has the same Snapdragon 835 found in the Galaxy S8 and One Plus 5T, and it is supported by 4GB of RAM. And while the phone still sports a traditional look with its thick bezels, playing 3D games on its Full HD 1080 screen is still a delight.

Essential PH-1

What makes it great for work?

You probably never heard of this phone before but it is one of the top smartphones of 2017. After all, it was designed by Android co-founder, Andy Rubin. Like the Pixel 2, it has stock Android (Nougat) so you have free reign on your customizations.

What makes it great for play?

Unlike the Pixel 2 with its thick Bezel, the PH-1 is actually the first phone to feature an infinity screen. It’s 5.7-inch screen actually feels smaller than most 5.5-inch phones, which makes it more comfortable to hold while giving you a bigger screen. Plus, it sports the same Snapdragon 835 chipset and 4GB of RAM to handle even the heaviest games found on Google Play.

Do you agree with the choices above? Sound off on the comments section.

Guest Author: Mark Dacanay is a Digital Marketing Professional who has been working with RingCentral for more than 5 years. He is obsessed with anything about the cloud – the technology, not the fluffy stuff in the sky. You can reach him through Twitter and LinkedIn.